Do Eastern Pequots, Golden Hill Paugussetts and Schaghticokes deserve a second chance?

That didn't last long. On Friday, June 26, the Supreme Court issued a historic ruling that all states of the nation shall permit same-sex marriage. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy declared in a written statement Friday morning, the decision "reaffirms everything that this nation stands for — equality, liberty and justice for all."

Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman wrote, "Today's victory furthers us as a nation, one that is committed to all our citizens."

"The arc of the moral universe is long but bends toward justice," said Martin Luther King, Jr. in a piece of hopeful wisdom that has sustained millions. That arc became a sharp scythe on Monday for aspiring Native American tribes in Connecticut. Even by Malloy's standards, the turnabout was harsh.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs released revised regulations Monday that will make it harder for American Indians to win tribal approval. Malloy was particularly delighted because the proposed regulations "ensure that previously denied tribal groups in Connecticut will not get another bite at the apple" of recognition.

"Another bite at the apple" means a second chance. Native Americans seeking recognition of their tribes will not get a second chance to make their case. Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Christopher Murphy joined fellow Connecticut Democrat Malloy, stating, "Most notably, the BIA has reversed course on its initial plan to allow a second bite at the apple for previously denied petitioners."

The press release from the triumphant trio came with everything but whoops of satisfaction at vanquishing Native Americans. They are so proud of themselves. They showed those Eastern Pequots, Golden Hill Paugussetts and Schaghticokes. They have no need to fall under the protection of "everything this nation stands for."

Plenty of people, including the persistent men and women who won at the Supreme Court on Friday, have been rebuffed, gathered themselves and tried again. And again and again. Connecticut's Native American tribes, however, must live under different rules. Rules that Malloy, Blumenthal and Murphy delight in.

Wait, there's more. Monday was an eventful day in Connecticut. Later in the day, Malloy hailed the General Assembly's approval of his second chance proposal for convicted criminals. The new law, according to Malloy, is "focused on turning nonviolent offenders into productive members of our society." Wyman said the legislation improves "how we prepare and reintegrate ex-offenders into housing, employment and services."

Connecticut law has long provided many chances for criminal defendants to avoid convictions and incarceration. What Monday revealed was that Malloy will lavish the highest praise on giving more chances to nonviolent offenders who run afoul of the state's drug laws.

Reasonable people may take differing views on whether the accommodations Connecticut's criminal justice system makes in the face of illegal drug activity are sufficient. There's an argument that using illegal drugs by a school or day care center should not result in an enhanced penalty. There's also a case to be made that those facilities are particularly vulnerable to illegal drug use in their vicinity. People make mistakes. There are effective alternatives to incarceration.

Addiction is often a punishing mystery. Its victims extend far beyond the addicted. A compassionate society tries to help the offender and protect victims. We already do plenty of that in Connecticut. Now we will do more. Plenty of bites at that apple for you.

What is unsettling is the unforgiving hostility of the state's three highest elected officials to a handful of state-recognized tribes seeking to win federal recognition. The sin of Native American aspiration, it seems, is unforgivable. Worse than using illegal drugs near a school.

Maybe the tribes seeking federal recognition do not make shrewd political donations to the state Democrats' dodgy federal campaign committee. That's the one state elections enforcement officials are investigating. Lawyers for state Democrats are engaging in a fierce fight to avoid producing documents that might paint an unflattering picture of attempts to undo the campaign finance reforms Malloy and others championed in public.

It promises to be a long battle. If the investigation continues to go against state Democrats, you can be certain they will seek many ways to thwart it. No limits on bites of the apple for them — only for Native Americans in their Connecticut, whose governor applauds the sound of the door slamming in their faces.

Kevin Rennie is a lawyer and a former Republican state legislator. He can be reached at kfrennie@yahoo.com.